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France has expelled 12 Algerian diplomatic officials in a retaliatory move following Algeria's expulsion of an equal number of French diplomats, triggered by the recent arrest of an Algerian consular employee linked to the kidnapping of political influencer Amir Boukhors. Boukhors, a critic of Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, was abducted outside his home near Paris in April by men posing as police, an incident that has intensified diplomatic tensions between the two nations. Algeria has vehemently denied involvement in the kidnapping and condemned the arrest of its consular staff as a violation of diplomatic norms. Relations have been strained since 2024, exacerbated by President Macron's support for Morocco in the Western Sahara dispute and the imprisonment of French-Algerian author Boualem Sansal. Despite recent attempts at reconciliation, including a phone call between Macron and Tebboune, the mass expulsions represent a significant deterioration in bilateral ties. France has deemed Algeria's actions "unjustified and incomprehensible." 
Published: Apr 16 2025, 11 ameznews.inUS President Donald Trump intensified his conflict with Harvard University on Wednesday, criticizing it for resisting his push for increased government oversight of elite educational institutions. In a post on Truth Social, Trump declared Harvard "a JOKE" that "teaches Hate and Stupidity," arguing it should be stripped of federal funding and removed from lists of top universities. This follows his threat to revoke the institution's tax-exempt status after freezing $2.2 billion in federal support. Trump has demanded changes in Harvard's admissions and hiring practices, along with audits of its academic programs. In response, Harvard President Alan Garber asserted that the university would not compromise its independence or constitutional rights. The Trump administration's pressure on universities is framed as a response to alleged anti-Semitism and support for Hamas amid protests against Israel's actions in Gaza, as well as opposition to diversity initiatives in higher education.
Published: Apr 16 2025, 6 pmeznews.inIn Nigeria's Plateau state, two recent attacks have claimed over 100 lives, including that of a nine-month-old baby, amid escalating violence linked to longstanding ethnic and religious tensions between farmers and herders. Survivors recount horrific scenes of machete and gunfire attacks in the village of Kimakpa, where assailants indiscriminately targeted homes. Peter John, a survivor, described witnessing the murder of his family members, including his sister and niece, while he narrowly escaped. The violence is fueled by competition for dwindling resources exacerbated by climate change and land disputes, with many victims being Christian farmers attacked by predominantly Muslim Fulani herders. Authorities have yet to arrest any suspects, prompting local officials to label the situation a "systematic and premeditated campaign." In response, Governor Caleb Mutfwang has imposed restrictions on cattle grazing and urged community vigilance, though many residents feel abandoned by security forces during the assaults.
Published: Apr 16 2025, 6 pmeznews.inPope Francis expressed gratitude on Wednesday to the medical team that treated him for double pneumonia during a five-week hospital stay, speaking softly but without oxygen at a meeting in the Vatican. The 88-year-old pontiff is slowly resuming public engagements as he recovers from a significant health scare, meeting approximately 70 doctors and staff from Rome's Gemelli Hospital, where he spent 38 days. "Thank you for your service in hospital," he said, encouraging continued dedication. Following medical advice for two months of rest, Francis has made several brief public appearances since returning home. As the Vatican prepares for its busiest holiday season, including Easter celebrations starting Thursday, it remains unclear how involved the pope will be, with senior cardinals assigned to lead the events in his stead.
Published: Apr 16 2025, 6 pmeznews.inChina has urged the United States to "stop threatening and blackmailing" in response to President Donald Trump's insistence that Beijing must initiate negotiations to resolve the ongoing trade war. Trump has imposed steep tariffs on Chinese imports, reaching 145 percent, while China has retaliated with levies of 125 percent on US goods. Foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian emphasized that a resolution requires dialogue based on equality and mutual respect, asserting that there are no winners in a trade war. Meanwhile, the US economy grew by 5.4 percent in the first quarter, but experts warn that escalating tariffs could hinder exports and investment. Japan's envoy expressed optimism for a "win-win" outcome in upcoming talks, while South Korea's finance minister aims to delay reciprocal tariffs to minimize uncertainty for businesses. Amid these tensions, chip stocks have declined following Nvidia's forecast of a $5.5 billion loss due to new US licensing requirements for sales in China.
Published: Apr 16 2025, 4 pmeznews.inA collection of items from the ill-fated Titanic is set to go under the hammer at a UK auction later this month, including a gilt silver and brass pocket watch belonging to Danish second-class passenger Hans Christensen Givard. Givard, who perished when the ship sank after striking an iceberg in 1912, had his body recovered and buried in Halifax, Canada. His personal effects, which also included a savings book, cash, keys, a compass, and a passport, are expected to fetch around $66,000 at the auction on April 26. The watch, described by auctioneer Andrew Aldridge as "frozen in time," represents a poignant connection to the tragedy that claimed over 1,500 lives. Additional items for auction include a letter and medal from first-class passenger Erik Gustaf Lind and a rare ticket from third-class passenger Ernest Portage Tomlin, alongside a violin featured in the 1997 film about the disaster.
Published: Apr 16 2025, 5 pmeznews.inBritain's Supreme Court has ruled that the legal definition of a "woman" is based on biological sex at birth, a significant decision in the ongoing debate over trans rights. The unanimous ruling, which supports Scottish gender-critical campaigners For Women Scotland (FWS), clarifies that the terms "woman" and "sex" in the Equality Act 2010 refer specifically to biological women. However, the court emphasized that the act also protects transgender individuals from discrimination, recognizing their acquired gender. This ruling stems from a long-standing legal conflict regarding the interpretation of the Equality Act, with the court stating that the Scottish government's interpretation was incorrect and inconsistent with the 2004 Gender Recognition Act. While the decision is seen as a victory for gender-critical advocates, it raises concerns about potential discrimination against transgender women in accessing single-sex spaces, further intensifying the polarized discourse surrounding trans rights in the UK.
Published: Apr 16 2025, 5 pmeznews.inUS President Donald Trump has unveiled a controversial new initiative aimed at encouraging undocumented immigrants to voluntarily leave the country. In an interview with Fox Noticias, Trump outlined a plan that includes financial incentives such as stipends and plane tickets for those willing to self-deport. The initiative prioritizes the deportation of individuals with serious criminal records while potentially allowing "good" individuals to return legally. Trump emphasized the need to support industries like agriculture and hospitality by helping them find suitable workers, which he believes could ease the transition for undocumented immigrants. He highlighted a case of a Mexican man who has lived in the US for over two decades and expressed support for deporting criminals. The administration has also introduced the CBP Home app to facilitate voluntary departures. However, details on the program's implementation and eligibility criteria remain unclear, raising questions about its effectiveness.
Published: Apr 16 2025, 5 pmeznews.inOpenAI is reportedly developing its own social media platform akin to X, with a prototype that integrates ChatGPT's image generation and features a social feed, according to The Verge. CEO Sam Altman has been soliciting feedback from external sources on this nascent project, though it remains unclear whether it will be launched as a standalone app or incorporated into ChatGPT. This initiative could heighten tensions between Altman and Elon Musk, who co-founded OpenAI but left in 2018. The rivalry has intensified following Musk's unsuccessful $97.4 billion bid for OpenAI and a lawsuit he filed against the company, alleging it strayed from its original mission. OpenAI counter-sued Musk, claiming harassment. Additionally, a new social network could position OpenAI in direct competition with Meta, which is also exploring AI services, as both companies leverage vast amounts of user-generated data for their AI models.
Published: Apr 16 2025, 5 pmeznews.inUS President Donald Trump made headlines with a humorous attempt to pronounce his campaign slogan "Make America Great Again" in Spanish during a recent interview on a Fox News Spanish-language program. Host Rachel Campos-Duffy guided the 78-year-old president through the phrase, which she pronounced as "Vamos a hacer America grande otra vez." However, Trump’s rendition was notably simplified; he omitted the subject and verb, delivering a staccato version of "America grande otra vez," while emphasizing the final word with a forward lean. While his attempt was not grammatically correct, it resonated with his supporters on social media, who praised him for the effort. The White House shared the clip on X, where it quickly garnered hundreds of thousands of views, demonstrating Trump's enduring appeal among his fanbase despite the linguistic missteps.
Published: Apr 16 2025, 3 pmeznews.inHarvard University, with its $53 billion endowment—the largest of any U.S. college—has long prepared its budget to withstand financial shocks. This strategy is being tested as the Trump administration announced a freeze on $2.2 billion in federal funding after Harvard declined to meet certain government demands, raising concerns over its tax-exempt status. Federal funding, which constitutes 11% of Harvard's revenue and supports critical research in areas like AIDS and cancer, is now at risk. Despite its robust financial health, with a $45 million surplus in fiscal 2024 and cash reserves covering operating costs tenfold, over 80% of the endowment is earmarked for specific purposes. Experts warn that while Harvard can temporarily access its resources or sell bonds for short-term relief, the long-term implications of sustained funding cuts could be significant. As the university navigates these challenges, it remains to be seen how effectively it can maintain its mission amid political pressures.
Published: Apr 16 2025, 3 pm
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